The owner, who wants to be known as Mr B in Australia because of ongoing negotiations over who owns the boat and is responsible for its removal from the beach, learned of his Grand Soleil 37, christened Nirvelli's beaching at Wooli via The Daily Examiner website.

KEEPING WATCH: Australian Quarantine and a Border Force officer, the French-speaking man who claimed to be the owner of the yacht (second from the left) and Wooli residents Leanne and Ron Plowman keep vigil near the vessel.Photo Tim Howard / Daily ExaminerTim Howard

"How is this possible? My sailboat was recognised as a stolen boat on international insurance files.

"And her name was not even changed. I do not understand and as I did more research the thread of the story unravelled."

Mr B was was amazed to learn how many times the authorities and media dealt with his boat, but never recognised it as a stolen vessel.

In March 2015 the New Zealand navy rescued a man claiming to be the Nirvelli's owner from the path of Cyclone Pam as it stormed through the Pacific Ocean near Noumea.

Mr B said there was even film shot of the rescue of the yachtsman from his vessel to the navy vessel, which found its way onto New Zealand television.

"There was not just vision of the man, but an interview with a TVNZ journalist," Mr B said.

"Here I am suddenly face to face with the man on my boat and his name was printed on the screen.

"From there the story took shape. He appeared on several sites including Facebook, with his name and other people.

"I was able to learn he was a 35-year-old Frenchman born in the Toulon region who lived and worked in La Seyne-sur Mer."

Mr B said he felt guilty about hiding his identity, but said he had little choice.

He said to get an acceptable insurance payout he was forced to waive the transfer of property to the insurance company.

"Because officially I still own the boat, Australian authorities could charge me a fee for recovering my boat," he said.